Improving the Electrochemical Glycerol-to-Glycerate Conversion at Pd Sites via the Interfacial Hydroxyl Immigrated from Ni Sites

Yang Zhang; Lin Wang; Shengmin Pan; Lin Zhou; Man Zhang; Yaoyue Yang; Wenbin Cai

doi:10.3390/molecules29163890

Molecules (Aug 2024)

Improving the Electrochemical Glycerol-to-Glycerate Conversion at Pd Sites via the Interfacial Hydroxyl Immigrated from Ni Sites

Yang Zhang,
Lin Wang,
Shengmin Pan,
Lin Zhou,
Man Zhang,
Yaoyue Yang,
Wenbin Cai

Affiliations

Yang Zhang: Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
Lin Wang: Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
Shengmin Pan: Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
Lin Zhou: Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
Man Zhang: Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
Yaoyue Yang: Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
Wenbin Cai: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163890
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 29, no. 16
p. 3890

Abstract

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The electrochemical conversion of glycerol into high-value chemicals through the selective glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) holds importance in utilizing the surplus platform chemical component of glycerol. Nevertheless, it is still very limited in producing three-carbon chain (C3) chemicals, especially glyceric acid/glycerate, through the direct oxidation of its primary hydroxyl group. Herein, Pd microstructure electrodeposited on the Ni foam support (Pd/NF) is designed and fabricated to achieve a highly efficient GOR, exhibiting a superior current density of ca. 120 mA cm−2 at 0.8 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and high selectivity of glycerate at ca. 70%. The Faradaic efficiency of C3 chemicals from GOR can still be maintained at ca. 80% after 20 continuous electrolysis runs, and the conversion rate of glycerol can reach 95% after 10-h electrolysis. It is also clarified that the dual-component interfaces constructed by the adjacent Pd and Ni sites are responsible for this highly efficient GOR. Specifically, Ni sites can effectively strengthen the generative capacity of the active adsorbed hydroxyl (OHad) species, which can steadily immigrate to the Pd sites, so that the surface adsorbed glycerol species are quickly oxidized into C3 chemicals, rather than breaking the C–C bond of glycerol; thus, neither form the C2/C1 species. This study may yield fresh perspectives on the electrocatalytic conversion of glycerol into high-value C3 chemicals, such as glyceric acid/glycerate.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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